Solar eclipse 12 August 2026 in The Netherlands captured with digital camera equipped with Neutral-density filters

SONY RX10-iv 600mm ISO200 f/4 1/15 sec. time 20:02
that is about 8 minutes before maximum
Dimensions of the sun on this image: 780x725 pixels
Original image: 5472x3648 pixels.

The solar eclipse 2026 was a total eclipse in Iceland and Spain, and partial in The Netherlands. The weather was perfect, completely cloudless, but a littlle bit too hot at first. The maximum was around 20:10 in the evening, with 90% coverage. Because the sun was low on the horizon, a location was required with a good view to the West without trees or buildings, in this case a nature reserve (Westbroekse Zodden). The last contact was around 21:03 and sunset at 21:10.

At a previous solar eclipse I used an improvised method to photograph the eclipse. This time I used photographic HOYA PROND EX - ND500 filters. These are Neutral-density filters (ND filters) which reduce the intensity of all wavelengths of light equally, giving no changes in hue of color rendition. The filters can be combined. To ensure that the camera sensor would not be damaged, I used two of them on top of each other (1) and on top of the standard UV filter. Still, I didn't dare photograph the beginning of the eclipse and waited until the maximum. 

Manual focus required (∞). I used diaphragm f/4,0 because higher settings didn't work well. I used the SONY RX10-iv with maximum zoom 600mm, see pictures. I succeeded in making a few sharply focused photos but I stopped at the moment the sensor seem to produce distorted images. Luckily, it turned out afterwards that the sensor was not damaged! 

©A.B.

Subjectively speaking, the eclipse at the moment of the maximum coverage of 90% was somewhat disappointing; it didn't get really dark. However, the colors in the landscape did fade noticeably, and it became less warm. The human side: people came together from all over to admire the eclipse at the hospot I had chosen. It was a social happening. There was a cheerful and friendly atmosphere.

©A.B

Next solar eclipse: 2 Aug 2027 (49%).

 

Notes 

1. Warning: don't tighten the filters too much! I couldn't get mine apart anymore! I eventually managed to get mine loose again after all. One ND500 filter equals 9 stops down. Two of them equals 18 stops down! So I have used more than recommended ND100.000 (16.6 stops) and coud have easily made pictures of the start of the eclipse. See for table ND filters and stops: Fotograferen met filters and Zonsverduistering fotograferen: de complete gids voor 12 augustus 2026. I only found this website after the eclips.

 

Previous blogs

• Zonsverduistering fotograferen met een gewone digitale camera? Het kan! (29 maart 2025) Solar eclipse with standard digital camera. 31 Maart 2025
• Maansverduistering Maandag 21 januari 2019. Lunar eclipse.  21 Jan 2019
• Totale maansverduistering maandag 28 september 2015 groot succes ondanks slechte weersvoorspellingen. 28 Sep 2015